Frank Calabrese, Sr./Jr. prison tapes notes

[Frank]

In the Tape summary given earlier in this Thread. It is very clear that Auippa wanted Tony Spilotro killed & DiFronzo came up with the idea of how to do it. This is in direct contradiction of Cullotta's video where he claims that the Spilotro Brothers were not killed on the order of Auippa. Also, according to Frank Sr., Tony had his brother Michael convinced that he was the Boss. Tony Spilotro is probably the source of where Cullotta got some of his big exaggerated grandeur beliefs about him.

Yes the tapes are definitely interesting..I believe Calabrese over Cullotta. I guess that evidence against DiFronzo would be considered hearsay.

[B.]

Nice job with this.

Laughed at the bit about Frank Sr. saying he wished his brother Nick had been honest about not wanting to commit murders. "You should have just told me you didn't want to kill people."

I hadn't thought of it before, but making ceremonies must not have been too foreign to them given it was used as a ruse to lure the Spilotros. We know they had one in the early 1980s, but Spilotro himself must have attended making ceremonies along these lines given that he didn't question it.

[Pete]

What puzzles me is Marcellos time as boss in between the 2 murders of his crew members.

It seems that he was ok with the first one but im not sure about the second or Zizzo

The hatch was probably ok’d by Jimmy cuz like the day before the hatch put his hands on his brother Mickey. In my opinion the zizzo hit was a changing of the guard. Sarno coordinated that while jimmy was locked up. No way jimmy signed off on that.

[Pete]

Nice job with this.

Laughed at the bit about Frank Sr. saying he wished his brother Nick had been honest about not wanting to commit murders. "You should have just told me you didn't want to kill people."

I hadn't thought of it before, but making ceremonies must not have been too foreign to them given it was used as a ruse to lure the Spilotros. We know they had one in the early 1980s, but Spilotro himself must have attended making ceremonies along these lines given that he didn't question it.

I Just heard this recently bout supposedly the whole making ruse was difronzos plan. He set the whole thing up and helped carry it out

[Confederate]

In my opinion the zizzo hit was a changing of the guard. Sarno coordinated that while jimmy was locked up. No way jimmy signed off on that.

I agree. Fatso Sarno simply eliminated his fiercest competition for the Poker machines, that being Zizzo & Marcello couldn't stop him. In the mean time, DiFronzo stayed out of it like he promised & didn't care what happened IMO.

[Pete]

Thanks again. This completely confirms that the Cicero and Chinatown crews were born from the same group and stayed in close connection by representing the south side faction. Also confirms that by the late 70s there was a tension between the two crews, and they allegedly continued until LaPietra went to jail. Story goes that after Torellos death, Ferriola shouldve been the boss of the south side but LaPietra prevailed since Nagal was allegedly accused about something. So theres possibility that during his reign, the crews were divided to an extent, but when Angelo was gone, Ferriola obviously became the boss of the south, and even the Heights mob possibly reported to him at the time. After Ferriola, it seems that Infelice and Monteleone kept the close collaboration between the crews and also kept the south faction in one piece, same as their legacy such as Sarno and Delaurentis.

It also shows that the south side mob wanted to knock off some of the top westsiders, although it seems that DiFronzo stopped the whole thing by retreating. Besides that, some Melrose Park west side crew members were still forcing their presence at the top, and thats why they killed Chiaramonti and Zizzo. It seems that the only westsiders who played it smart and remained on the scene were the Grand Av guys. So by the late 2000s or early 2010s we have the South Side mob/Cicero and Chinatown, followed by Grand Av and what was left of the former EP crew

But I'm not saying your wrong. Snr mentions problems between Andriacchi and Tornabene. Wasnt Tornabene Melrose Park? Ive also read that Andriacchi had problems with Monteleone and even DiFronzo

Tornabene was Aiuppas legacy meaning MP and southern Cicero, and also interests around the south.

I also believe that both Monteleone and Andriacchi shared the top spot while No Nose had problems, which explains the tension to an extent

Yes thats where we and I have had Tornabene, basically in charge of the Melrose Park-Cicero while Carlisi and Marcello were doing time and probably an administration member at some point.

We can transcribe the marcello tapes next I’ll help and I think calabrese testifies the same after monteleone died jimmy made tornabene acting boss until he was released. There’s a tape of jimmy going on about tornabene basically saying how he was supposed to just take care of things till jimmy got back but started getting too big for his britches which pissed jimmy off. Jimmy was old school. His tapes are gold he complained about tornabene, fratto, and sarno, saying he would straighten everything out when he got home. It sounded like he planned to knock some people off he was very serious and pissed talking about how these people were out of line and it wouldn’t take him long to straighten everything out when he got home. If he didn’t have all the heat things could have got bad real quick. Sarno he called a “good kid” in one tape and ripped him in another. See Jimmy was away along time he thought things were still like before he went away and if they were he would send the hit parade on multiple people. Like I said I’ll help do the marcello tapes next their gold. Many people got lucky cuz he had big plans that included a lot of bodies. You look at Jimmy compared to the guy that follows sarno there’s no comparison. Read the article about the guy in the mcc with Jimmy. He said he’s this little guy but everyone in there, every color, listened to him what he said went.

[Pete]

In my opinion the zizzo hit was a changing of the guard. Sarno coordinated that while jimmy was locked up. No way jimmy signed off on that.

I agree. Fatso Sarno simply eliminated his fiercest competition for the Poker machines, that being Zizzo & Marcello couldn't stop him. In the mean time, DiFronzo stayed out of it like he promised & didn't care what happened IMO.

Your right bud. Marcello literally couldn’t do anything. Again I look at zizzo as a changing of the guard. No way marcello ok’d that. Sarno took his shot and difronzo didn’t want the heat and put his head in the sand

[Villain]

What puzzles me is Marcellos time as boss in between the 2 murders of his crew members.

It seems that he was ok with the first one but im not sure about the second or Zizzo

The hatch was probably ok’d by Jimmy cuz like the day before the hatch put his hands on his brother Mickey. In my opinion the zizzo hit was a changing of the guard. Sarno coordinated that while jimmy was locked up. No way jimmy signed off on that.

I hear you and thanks. Btw ill send you a pm in the next few days...i just need to gather up some more info

[Pete]

What puzzles me is Marcellos time as boss in between the 2 murders of his crew members.

It seems that he was ok with the first one but im not sure about the second or Zizzo

The hatch was probably ok’d by Jimmy cuz like the day before the hatch put his hands on his brother Mickey. In my opinion the zizzo hit was a changing of the guard. Sarno coordinated that while jimmy was locked up. No way jimmy signed off on that.

I hear you and thanks. Btw ill send you a pm in the next few days...i just need to gather up some more info

Sounds good buddy anything you need or wanna discuss let me know

[Snakes]

Conversations between Sr and Jr about Nick: Jr. tells his dad that Nick made it sound like it was only strangers that he killed but Jr. points out that Fecarotta was Nick's friend. Sr mentions the gloves again and seems to think that they cut the gloves off when treating Nick's wound. He then talks about the time a homemade explosive went off in a car that Nick was driving. Sr. managed to keep it from going off completely but it blew the passenger door off and injured his hand in the process. Sr. stated that Nick was shocked and that he had to slap him to get him back to his senses so he could drive them away from the scene. Sr said if the secondary explosive would have gone off as opposed to just the blasting cap then both of them would have been killed. Sr said Poker DiForti was in the back seat and was similarly shocked.

Jr goes on to mention Philip Fiore [member of Sr's crew] and Sr explained that Fiore hated Nick with a passion. Sr mentions giving money to Fiore and Terry [Scalise, another member of Sr's crew] before they went away to prison. Sr talks about Michael Talarico and Ronnie Jarrett giving both Fiore and Scalise's wives 400 a month while they are in prison. Sr said that Nick would have gotten the same payment but "he turned his back." Sr says that "it" isn't as profitable as it used to be and that the only one [presumably only one of his crew] with anything going on is Ronnie Jarret and Sam Bills along with "a few other people." Sr expresses anger that Nick gave all of Fiore's "stuff" [probably juice and sportsbook customers] to "Chewy" [unknown; this probably explains why Fiore hates Nick]. Sr also tells his son that Nick had a "card guy" that he sold to DiForti without informing Sr.

Sr goes on to talk about how Nick first got involved. Sr invited Nick to dinner in 1969/70 and asked him what his plans was and whether or not he wanted to stay with the Teamsters. Sr talks about "starting to climb" and that he wishes "Larry" [Stubitsch; killed in 1969] was still around. Nick asks how he can help and Sr recalls letting him in on some of the juice loan action at 400 dollars a month. Sr mentions something about a "shotgun" to Nick and asks if he was capable of it and Nick replied that he'd do whatever he had to do.

Conversation switches to Twan [Anthony Doyle] and Mike [Michael Ricci; he and Doyle were corrupt cops on the Outfit's payroll]. Sr talks about Mike letting Toots [Frank Caruso; at this time probably the boss of the Southside] know about the missing evidence [Nick's gloves]. Sr mentions Twan and Doyle coming to visit him "in April" [this transcript is dated February 1999].

Conversation switches to the "Pollock" [Morawski] murder. Sr said he had to push Nick and DiForti out of the car during the hit. Sr talks about another incident [not a murder] where DiForti "froze" and Sr told Nick to "leave him." Sr said that because Nick didn't leave him it came off as a sign of weakness and showed a negative mentality. In Sr's words, "you ain't got the balls don't pretend you got 'em."

Jr mentions a conversation where DiForti told Nick that Sr was doing something that he "wasn't supposed to be doing." [This may be referring to rackets that Monteleone wasn't aware of.] Nick mentioned this in passing to Jr, however Sr goes on to say that Johnny [Monteleone] had gave him permission to "do whatever he wants."

Sr mentions the letter where they will tell Nick about the evidence pull in code and also mention their suspicions about DiForti possibly being an informant. Sr mentions also getting it out to Mickey [Marcello] to pass on to James Marcello in prison that something may be amiss with DiForti. Sr said that Mickey had already relayed suspicions to Monteleone and he had been keeping an eye on DiForti. Sr mentions that when he initially mentioned it to Mickey before he "went away" [this would have been early 1997] that Mickey and John Matassa [who was also present] both looked at Sr as if they didn't like DiForti. [Interesting that Sr mentions having suspicions about DiForti as early as '97; the Calabrese evidence wasn't pulled until later]

[Pete]

Conversations between Sr and Jr about Nick: Jr. tells his dad that Nick made it sound like it was only strangers that he killed but Jr. points out that Fecarotta was Nick's friend. Sr mentions the gloves again and seems to think that they cut the gloves off when treating Nick's wound. He then talks about the time a homemade explosive went off in a car that Nick was driving. Sr. managed to keep it from going off completely but it blew the passenger door off and injured his hand in the process. Sr. stated that Nick was shocked and that he had to slap him to get him back to his senses so he could drive them away from the scene. Sr said if the secondary explosive would have gone off as opposed to just the blasting cap then both of them would have been killed. Sr said Poker DiForti was in the back seat and was similarly shocked.

Jr goes on to mention Philip Fiore [member of Sr's crew] and Sr explained that Fiore hated Nick with a passion. Sr mentions giving money to Fiore and Terry [Scalise, another member of Sr's crew] before they went away to prison. Sr talks about Michael Talarico and Ronnie Jarrett giving both Fiore and Scalise's wives 400 a month while they are in prison. Sr said that Nick would have gotten the same payment but "he turned his back." Sr says that "it" isn't as profitable as it used to be and that the only one [presumably only one of his crew] with anything going on is Ronnie Jarret and Sam Bills along with "a few other people." Sr expresses anger that Nick gave all of Fiore's "stuff" [probably juice and sportsbook customers] to "Chewy" [unknown; this probably explains why Fiore hates Nick]. Sr also tells his son that Nick had a "card guy" that he sold to DiForti without informing Sr.

Sr goes on to talk about how Nick first got involved. Sr invited Nick to dinner in 1969/70 and asked him what his plans was and whether or not he wanted to stay with the Teamsters. Sr talks about "starting to climb" and that he wishes "Larry" [Stubitsch; killed in 1969] was still around. Nick asks how he can help and Sr recalls letting him in on some of the juice loan action at 400 dollars a month. Sr mentions something about a "shotgun" to Nick and asks if he was capable of it and Nick replied that he'd do whatever he had to do.

Conversation switches to Twan [Anthony Doyle] and Mike [Michael Ricci; he and Doyle were corrupt cops on the Outfit's payroll]. Sr talks about Mike letting Toots [Frank Caruso; at this time probably the boss of the Southside] know about the missing evidence [Nick's gloves]. Sr mentions Twan and Doyle coming to visit him "in April" [this transcript is dated February 1999].

Conversation switches to the "Pollock" [Morawski] murder. Sr said he had to push Nick and DiForti out of the car during the hit. Sr talks about another incident [not a murder] where DiForti "froze" and Sr told Nick to "leave him." Sr said that because Nick didn't leave him it came off as a sign of weakness and showed a negative mentality. In Sr's words, "you ain't got the balls don't pretend you got 'em."

Jr mentions a conversation where DiForti told Nick that Sr was doing something that he "wasn't supposed to be doing." [This may be referring to rackets that Monteleone wasn't aware of.] Nick mentioned this in passing to Jr, however Sr goes on to say that Johnny [Monteleone] had gave him permission to "do whatever he wants."

Sr mentions the letter where they will tell Nick about the evidence pull in code and also mention their suspicions about DiForti possibly being an informant. Sr mentions also getting it out to Mickey [Marcello] to pass on to James Marcello in prison that something may be amiss with DiForti. Sr said that Mickey had already relayed suspicions to Monteleone and he had been keeping an eye on DiForti. Sr mentions that when he initially mentioned it to Mickey before he "went away" [this would have been early 1997] that Mickey and John Matassa [who was also present] both looked at Sr as if they didn't like DiForti. [Interesting that Sr mentions having suspicions about DiForti as early as '97; the Calabrese evidence wasn't pulled until later]

Diforti had Johnny apes ear and was his right hand man. I’m sure he let him do whatever. Also interesting about diforti as he was never a snitch

[B.]

Bumping a great thread.

[Snakes]

Bumping a great thread.

I need to do some more when I have time. I need to go back and read the part where Frank discusses the bosses and see if I can interpret it better now that we know more about the boss timeline.

[B.]

They're really some of the best recordings we have of someone in the life, made that much better because it's a group we don't have much inside info on. He talks murders, induction ceremony, bosses, basically all you could want even if some of it is hard to interpret perfectly. It's almost as good as his brother's testimony and in some ways better as it's someone talking off the cuff.

[AntComello]

Thanks for the breakdowns. This thread is great as I just recently read the family secrets book. Keep it coming lol